Kindle vs. Physical Books: Why I Still Buy Hardcovers

Apr 16

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I've always been a physical book girl; there's just something about the feel and smell of the paper between your fingers, the weight of a story in your hands - it's addicting. My shelves are my pride - books stacked in rows or piles teetering beside my bed, with the spines worn with love (I'm not the type to train the spine of my books).

Unfortunately, there's a limit to shelf space. So, ultimately, I had to get a Kindle. At first, it felt like a betrayal. Could a screen ever replace the magic of turning an actual page? I was wrong; I haven't been able to put it down, and I'm going through book after book.

And I'm not alone - according to a 2024 report by WordsRated, Kindle Unlimited has over 3 million titles available, and readers with subscriptions read 35% more books per year than those without. That's precisely what happened to me; Kindle Unlimited opened up a new world. I started devouring books like the bookworm I am - trying new genres and discovering indie authors I might never have encountered otherwise. It's dangerously convenient and addictive; it's perfect.

But here's the thing I didn't expect: the Trophy Phenomenon.

I noticed it quickly - after I tore through a book that had me feeling all those emotions under the sun, I'd find myself hunting for a physical copy. Not just any version, though; I wanted the hardcover or special edition. Something I could place on my shelf like a trophy. Something I could see every day and remember how I felt reading it. Even if I'd already read it on my Kindle, I still wanted it in my hands: to admire, to own, to treasure.

It's not just nostalgia - it's a form of book love. Digital books let me read more than ever, while physical books are how I honour the ones that mean the most. The UK publishing industry reflects this sentiment; while the digital formats are on the rise, physical bookshop purchases have risen about pre-pandemic levels, indicating a continued appreciation for buying books from local retailers, according to a report by The Bookseller. This trend suggests that readers value the experience of browsing physical stores alongside digital convenience.

Moreover, hardcover book sales in the UK rose 8.6% in 2023, even as digital consumption increased. At the same time, special editions and collector's releases are booming, with publishers investing more in sprayed edges, foiling, and exclusive art. We're no longer just reading - celebrating our favourite reads like prized possessions.

That's the future of reading: not physical vs. digital, but a blend. We read fast, wide, and wildly on screens. But the stories that stay with? We make space for them. On our shelves, in our homes, like trophies and memories.

So yes, Kindle Unlimited is my new favourite enabler, but I'll never stop buying physical books. I do it more intentionally now and with a lot more joy.

How about you? Do you still buy physical books after reading them digitally? And what stories have earned a place on your shelf?

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